BSB Oulton Park Saturday

Milwaukee Yamaha celebrated victory in the opening MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship race at Oulton Park this afternoon as James Ellison rode a faultless race to claim his second win of the season.

Ellison had qualified on the front row and had a flying start in the race, moving into second on the opening lap with a move at Lodge on Josh Brookes on the second lap. A lap later and he was able to take the lead, passing Lowes at Old Hall and then began trying to edge an advantage. Shane Byrne was pushing Ellison hard in the final laps, but the Milwaukee Yamaha rider controlled the race and defended to have the advantage at the finish. Josh Waters improved in the opening race, ending fourteenth ahead of tomorrow’s two races.

Ellison said: “It was a tough race and we knew we needed to try and get away at the front as they have done that at the last few rounds. We had the pace, qualified on the front row and made some decent passes during the race. I thought Shakey was going to make a move and my pit board was showing me +0 and I thought ‘here we go’. I tried to keep the lap times consistent and ride a bit defensive on the last lap, especially into Lodge and that did the job. This win means a lot to me and the Milwaukee Yamaha team have worked hard for this; we just have to try and do the same tomorrow!”

Water said: “It was a hard race, but we have made some changes today that were an improvement. We have some data now from the race today that we can look through to see what we can do to make a difference again tomorrow.”

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BROOKES 4TH AS JACOBSEN FIGHTS FROM BACK

Team Suzuki Press Office – August 10.

Tyco Suzuki’s Josh Brookes took fourth place in today’s opening British Superbike Championship race at Oulton Park’s triple header weekend, with team-mate PJ Jacobsen avenging the disappointment of having to start from the back of the grid in the re-started encounter to charge to an impressive seventh-placed finish.

The young American, who celebrated his 20th birthday earlier in the week, made the most of his front-row grid position – his best of the year in third place – and was holding second place before the race was red-flagged.

With his mechanics frantically working to make minor adjustments to his machine before the re-start, Jacobsen missed the re-start ‘cut-off’ by just 10 seconds and was forced to start from the back of the grid.

Showing true grit, the Tyco Suzuki pilot forced his way through the pack to take nine valuable championship points and a second-row grid position alongside his team mate for Sunday’s opening 18 lap BSB race.

Said Jacobsen: “I was mad-angry on those first few laps. No, I was actually mad-angry for the whole race! I was disappointed to miss the re-start in my correct grid position but when we re-formed I just looked across at Keith Farmer and said, ‘I’m heading to the front. You coming?’ I just wanted more laps in the end as I could have moved up even closer to the front guys, but I’m ready for tomorrow now and will be looking to replicate my start, which took me up to second place before the red flag ahead of championship leader Shakey Byrne.”

Josh Brookes, who was disappointed at missing out on his 10th podium of the season in fourth place, said: “I’m a bit frustrated today as we have such a good package, yet I’m finding it so difficult to ride around here. I’m having to fight with the bike everywhere, which then leaves us with no tyre after just a handful of laps. I was dragging the bike on the floor everywhere in that race, which can be scary as it makes the tyres go light; especially through places like Island Bend. We need to make some changes tomorrow to push-up into contention.”

Team Manager Philip Neill said: “We are obviously very frustrated about the incident with PJ, especially missing the re-start out of pit lane by something like 10 seconds. In saying that, he put in an astonishing ride to come through from dead last to seventh place. It’s proof enough that he has moved to the next level in BSB and is now ready to progress even further.

“Josh has had a frustrating weekend so far, and after qualifying, we thought we had found that little bit we needed for him. We are still a bit short in that department but the boys are making some changes and I’m confident he can be back where he belongs in tomorrow’s two races.”